What happened on 10 May 2026 in Latvia?

What happened on 10 May 2026, and why did it end with a ministerial resignation in Riga? Andris Sprūds stepped down as Latvia's defence minister after Ukrainian drones violated Latvian airspace during an attack on Russia.

The resignation came in the context of a wider incident type: violations of airspace by aircraft from countries not party to the fighting, a problem that the Russo-Ukrainian war has repeatedly produced. In this case the drones that entered Latvian airspace were Ukrainian, on a mission aimed at Russia. Sprūds left his post as a result.

A ceasefire under strain

The resignation followed a tense 9 May. A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine had just begun, yet Oleh Syniehubov, governor of Kharkiv Oblast, said a Russian drone struck a residential building in Kharkiv at the start of the truce. Kharkiv has been the target of numerous Russian rocket attacks since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Putin's remarks on 9 May

Also on 9 May, Russian president Vladimir Putin said he thought the war might end soon. The remark came after he had vowed victory over Ukraine during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow, so the two statements pointed in different directions on the same day.

The positions of the two sides in peace negotiations have been far apart. Putin seeks recognition of all occupied land as Russian, guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO, curtailment of Ukraine's military and the lifting of sanctions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks a ceasefire, full withdrawal of Russian troops, the return of prisoners and kidnapped Ukrainian children, prosecution of Russian leaders for war crimes, and security guarantees.

Why 10 May mattered

Taken together, the events of 9 and 10 May showed how a short truce and optimistic words coexisted with continued strikes and with spillover risks for neighbouring states. For Latvia, the cost was political: the head of its defence ministry resigned over drones that crossed into its skies.